NATIONAL’S GOT TALENT?

Contest shaping up as backbench vs Cabinet as three declare intentions

The Old Hand, the New Face and the Wild Card — the contenders begin their auditions. Fevered lobbying under way as factions launch race to get the numbers. Knives out in Parliament for the ‘Battle of the Mustards’. ‘Disunity in politics is lethal and voters can sense it’ — warning over damaging leadership contest.

Fevered lobbying to become the next Prime Minister has begun in the National caucus with the three contenders, Bill English, Judith Collins and Jonathan Coleman, each trying to meet with 55 other caucus members to secure their support.

English is running as the candidate of trust and stability; Coleman is running as a new-generation candidate who would bring in fresh blood to the Cabinet, and Collins is running as the toughest of them all.

Amy Adams and Simon Bridges have ruled themselves out of contention for the leadership. Paula Bennett has not but sources say she is not likely to stand.

Many caucus members have not made up their minds.

But the contest so far is shaping up as one of backbench vs Cabinet and meetings are going on everywhere at Parliament.

Almost all who have publicly declared any preference are Cabinet ministers backing Bill English, the Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Anne Tolley, Hekia Parata, Louise Upston, Michael Woodhouse, Nathan Guy and Nick Smith are ministers who have thrown their weight behind English, as has outgoing Prime Minister John Key.

Minister Nikki Kaye, who has been on leave for cancer treatment, came back yesterday for the caucus meeting. She has also weighed in behind English and said she would stand again in Auckland Central.

Christchurch-based list MP Nuk Korako, one of the few backbenchers to declare, has also backed English.

Coleman is making a strong pitch to the backbenchers, many of whom have not made up their minds but want a contest.

English is still regarded as the frontrunner but given that in a caucus of 59, only 27 are in the executive, nothing can be taken for granted.

Some backbenchers who want change say they could be satisfied with English if he committed to rejuvenation through a major Cabinet reshuffle. That would mean cleaning out so-called “deadwood” — which could lead to disunity.

The three most likely contenders for deputy are Bennett, Bridges and Adams when the positions are put to the vote next Monday. It is not yet known whether any of the contenders will state their preferred deputy until after the leadership vote.

But sources said formal tickets were unlikely because the caucus wanted the right to elect the deputy.

The possibility of Coleman or Collins becoming deputy to English should they muster a very good showing in the leadership contest cannot be completely discounted.

Their bids are also seen as setting themselves up for a strong run in a year’s time if English wins the leadership now but National cannot win a fourth term.

Key attended caucus yesterday morning to explain his decision to resign but left before discussion on how he would be replaced.

Coleman declared first, then English then Collins.

English said the circumstances were different now to when he led the party to its worst defeat in 2002.

Back then he was 39 and had six children aged under 13. Now his youngest child was 17 and he was in a position to be more focused.

He acknowledged that leadership contests could be divisive but he said the caucus understood the importance of cohesion and stability. “Unity is everything in this business.”

Collins said the 2017 election cam- paign would be the toughest one National had ever fought and it needed some of the toughest people to run it.

She also said she was “utterly authentic . . . I’m going to say exactly what I think and I’m going to call it as I see it.”

Coleman said it was clear there was an appetite in the caucus for a contest. It was time to build on the gains of the eight years under Key.

“I feel that it needs generational change. It is going to need new thinking in policy areas.

“It is going to mean some new personnel so combining the best of the current line-up with those who are coming through the caucus.”

Nominations will remain open until the vote at a special caucus next Monday.

Unity is everything in this business. Bill English